“Oh anxiety isn’t real, you’re just faking.” That’s what most people say when someone is having a panic attack or anxiety attack. Anxiety is our bodies responding to stress,worry, and fear. Everyone has some form of anxiety; there are some people in the world who say they don’t have anxiety, and they might think that. However, the truth is that they just haven’t identified it yet.
What is anxiety?:
Many people believe that there is a deep scientific definition for anxiety, but really anxiety is just our bodies letting us know that we are really stressed and need to let it out. You do need to let your stress out and that’s what anxiety is. Ms.Carelli, a dance teacher here at WMS stated, “It’s the panic that is caused by not being or feeling ok.”
Some people like to say, “Anxiety is not real, it’s just a way to get attention.” I’m writing this because no, anxiety is real and it is not the end of the world that you have anxiety.
We can think of anxiety in different ways. In order to express how each person interprets anxiety differently I asked students and teachers what their definition of anxiety is.
Mr.Malmstrom, a language arts and journalism teacher at WMS, stated that “anxiety is not being comfortable with the unknown.”
Mrs. Duffy, a language arts teacher at WMS, said, “Anxiety is when your heart is racing and your thoughts are intrusive and you can only focus on the thing that is bothering you.”
Panic and Anxiety attacks:
Panic attacks happen when we feel fear or stress that takes over. Our hearts start racing, we shake uncontrollably, have shortness of breath, and sweat. Most people think they are having a heart attack, but this is actually just our anxiety shutting down our bodies.
When some people are having these they start crying and panicking even more. When I have a panic attack, I have it silently. I don’t speak and start to fidget with my fingers. The way that I handle it is remembering that I have to breathe slowly in and out.
I always get panic attacks before performing on stage at dance competitions or just performing in front of people. What I do is stare at something like the floor for a long time to calm myself down.
Now, with anxiety attacks, it’s a period of worry or fear about something. We tend to get stuck in the same thought over and over again. Shaking, not feeling like you have enough air to breath are two symptoms. Kind of like panic attacks but more intense.
Some ways you can help yourself calm down when having an anxiety attack is tapping your thumb on the rest of your fingers or using a breathing method which is inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, and hold for 4 seconds. It works really well.
How to calm yourself down:
Other students at WMS are heavily involved in the Mental Health Club and wanted to share some tips.
Alyssa Alvarado, an 8th grade member of the Mental Health Club, said, “What I do is five things you see, four things you can touch, three things you hear, two things you can smell, 1 thing you can taste.” If you think that is too much for you, just take deep breaths.
Delaney Fallon, an 8th grader at WMS stated, “I try not to think of the thing that is stressing me out.” Delaney Fallon stated
Jaclyn Bruno, an 8th grader at WMS said, “ For me I just have to step away from everything to calm down.” I do the same thing and even when I’m at dance I still have to step away from life because it can be a lot for me and I don’t want people to see me having an anxiety attack.
Miss Carelli, a dance teacher at WMS stated, “Help is beautiful, it helps you get better about yourself.” Seeing a therapist always helps for people to talk to and help out with problems. My anxiety was so bad when I was in first grade that my mom sent me to therapy.
Brianna Torres, an 8th grader at WMS said, “Think about the positive things.” Making a list of the things that are making you worry always helps.
The SAC Counselor: Mrs. Acheson:
Mrs.Acheson is the SAC Counselor here at WMS and mental health is paramount to her. Mrs. Acheson said that “I help my students by identifying their anxiety and what it is.” I then asked Mrs.Acheson what she does to help her anxiety and she said, “I see a therapist or I crab, fish, and take walks on the beach.”
She also stated, “I tap my big toe to distract me when I’m with a student or in a meeting.” Acheson wanted to say that “anxiety is a normal thing and anxiety is outside our control.”
Yes, anxiety is something we can’t control, but we can help make it better. I promise, anxiety gets better over time and you will get better at handling it.
